Colorado Springs Chess News

Game Of The Week

A couple years back, I came up with a method to organize chess tactics. I called it the DROP Method (http://cschess.webs.com/apps/blog/categories/show/1378181-drop-method). The DROP method is an acronym for the basic kinds of tactics. It is meant to remind you not to drop your pieces and help you get your opponent to drop theirs.

I said that the DROP Method was a work in progress, and it was. So, I thought I would revisit each of the four kinds of chess tactics to provide more examples:

• The first kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Discovery, which I revisited on May 24th (http://cschess.webs.com/apps/blog/show/42302093-d-is-for-discovery-ii).
• The second kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Removal, which I revisited on June 2nd (http://cschess.webs.com/apps/blog/show/42339394-r-is-for-removal-iii
• The third kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Overload, which I revisited on June 23rd (http://cschess.webs.com/apps/blog/show/42365864-o-is-for-overload-iii).
• The fourth kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Pin.

Pin is a chess move that immobilizes an opponent's piece.

The Pin is different from the other kinds of tactics in that it does not create multiple threats. Its main function is to prevent a piece from moving. A Pin on a target allows that target to be attacked by a lower value piece. A Pin on a support allows the capture of the piece the support is guarding.

"The defensive power of a pinned piece is only imaginary."

(Aaron Nimzovich)

The Pin works by threatening a low value piece that has a higher value piece behind it. The low value piece is stuck (as if with a pin) to the higher value piece due to the loss of material should the low value piece move and allow the capture of the higher value piece. If the higher value piece is the King, the low value piece is absolutely immobilized, as the rules of Chess do not allow moves where the King could be captured. Otherwise the Pin is relative, as the opponent can actually move the low value piece if he is willing to accept the loss of material. The other types of Pins are rare:

• Absolute (Pins a target to the King)
• Relative (Pins a low value target to a higher value piece)
• Cross (Multiple Pins on one piece)
• Cross-check (blocks check and counter-checks)

Here is an example from a game I played against Paul Covington.  Paul is a past president of the Colorado State Chess Association.  He is running again this year.  I think he has great ideas.  He helped the Colorado Springs Chess Club create the Supporting Memberships and get into the spacious ballroom of the Acacia Apartments.

Black to move

See the diagram and answer here:

http://cschess.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=194808527

While the best move is not a tactic, it is a move that sets up a tactic:  Qb5+.  White has to get out of check and cannot capture the black Queen.  Therefore, white can choose between blocking check or moving out of check.

Blocking check with Qe2, sets up a Pin on the white Knight (low value piece) to the white Queen (high value piece).  However, the Pin is only Relative, and the Knight can go on the counter-attack.  Should black play Qxd5, the Knight can jump to f4 to un-pin and trade Queens (losing a Pawn eventually).

Moving out of check with Kg2, sets up an Overload when black plays Qxd5.  This time the Pawn capture is with check and a double attack on the King and Knight, winning the Knight.

Moving out of check with Ke1, sets up another Pin on the white Knight (low value piece) to the King (high value piece).  Then, again, black can play Qxd5 and win the Knight.  This time the Pin is Absolute and the Knight cannot even consider counter-play.

Moving out of check with Kg1, looks like it might avoid the Pins, but it does not.  This time the white Knight (low value piece) is immobilized due to the Mate threat (1. Qb5+ Kg1 2. Qxd5 Nxd8 3. Re1#).  It is actually Pinned to a high value square!

P Is For Pin III

http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=94345

[Event "July Panera Wednesday"]

[Site "http://cschess.webs.com/"]

[Date "2014.07.30"]

[Round "5.1"]

[White "Covington, Paul"]

[Black "Anderson, Paul"]

[Result "0-1"]

[ECO "A40"]

[WhiteElo "1800"]

[BlackElo "1993"]

[PlyCount "94"]

[EventDate "2014.07.02"]

[TimeControl "5400"]

1. d4 c6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 g6 4. Nbd2 d5 5. c4

Bg7 6. h3 O-O 7. e3 Na6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bg3 Nac7 10. e4 Nb6 11. Nb3 Be6 12. Nc5

Qc8 13. Rc1 Nd7 14. Nxe6 Nxe6 15. d5 Nd8 16. Qb3 Bh6 17. Rc2 Nf6 18. Bd3 Nh5

19. Bh2 Bf4 20. Be2 Qd7 21. Ne5 Qc7 22. Nf3 Qa5+ 23. Nd2 Bxh2 24. Rxh2 Nf4 25.

g3 Nxe2 26. Kxe2 cxd5 27. exd5 e6 28. Ne4 f5 29. Nc5 Re8 30. Kf1 Rc8 31. Nxe6

Rxc2 32. Qxc2 Qb5+ 33. Kg1 Qxd5 34. f3 Qxe6 35. Rd2 Nc6 36. Kg2 Re7 37. b4 Nxb4

38. Rd8+ Kf7 39. Qb2 Qxa2 40. Rd2 Qxb2 41. Rxb2 a5 42. g4 f4 43. h4 Rc7 44. Rb3

Rc4 45. g5 a4 46. Ra3 Nc2 47. Rd3 Ne1+ 0-1

This Week In Chess

On August 12th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held its 2nd Tuesday of the month event:  Quads.  However, the players chose to change the time control from G30 to G24 after a suggestion from Earle Wikle.  I survived all my games to claim the 1st place tour points.

8/12 Quad (G24d5, RR):

3.0 Paul Anderson

1.5 Earle Wikle

1.0 Koji Del Conte

0.5 Mark McGough

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 3rd Quarter Standings

Current Standings (rank, name, total, quarter):

# MAX POSSIBLE 124.00 28.00

1 Paul Anderson 79.70 15.50

2 Daniel Herman 50.33 0.00

3 Mark McGough 42.12 8.25

4 Richard Buchanan 37.25 5.25

5 Koji DelConte 36.00 11.00

6 Shirley Herman 23.00 0.00

7 Earle Wikle 22.25 7.25

8 Joe Pahk 20.45 4.75

9 William Benedek 20.03 1.00

10 Jeff Fox 19.50 8.00

11 Dean Brown 18.50 1.00

12 Imre Barlay 15.50 3.50

13 Katie Wise 14.20 2.00

14 Gunnar Andersen 13.50 7.00

15 Sara Herman 11.33 0.00

16 Larry Kledzik 10.00 2.00

17 Mike Madsen 10.00 3.00

18 Eugin Pahk 8.50 2.50

19 Josh Bloomer 8.00 0.00

20 Anthony Thomason 8.00 0.00

21 Mike Makinney 8.00 1.00

22 Ben Matthews 6.00 0.00

23 Alex Freeman 5.33 0.00

24 Peter Barlay 5.00 0.00

25 Paul Protheroe 5.00 0.00

26 Rezheen Hamid 5.00 0.00

27 Richard Brown 5.00 2.50

28 Kevin Kaaoush 4.00 0.00

29 Alex Torres 4.00 0.00

30 Arthur Knize 4.00 0.00

31 Derick Arellano 4.00 4.00

32 Kurt Kondracki 3.50 3.50

33 Mitch Vincent 3.00 0.00

34 Peter Wise 3.00 0.00

35 David Silva 3.00 0.00

36 Spencer Shook 3.00 0.00

37 Gary Atkinson 2.00 0.00

38 John Byrne 2.00 0.00

39 Robert Jimenez 2.00 0.00

40 Ron Dotson 2.00 0.00

41 Chris Wynkoop 2.00 0.00

42 Isaac Martinez 2.00 0.00

43 Tim Brennan 2.00 0.00

44 Brian Wall 2.00 0.00

45 Luke Thurman 2.00 0.00

46 Steven Readel 2.00 0.00

47 Tara Martinez 2.00 0.00

48 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 0.00

49 Adam Metzger 1.00 0.00

50 Web McNairy 1.00 0.00

51 Jeremy Hawks 1.00 0.00

52 Phil Van Hawk 1.00 0.00

53 Brandon Hilliard 1.00 0.00

54 Dragan Plakalovic 1.00 0.00

55 Thomas Mullikin 1.00 0.00

56 Daniel Cabrera 1.00 0.00

57 Anthea Carson 1.00 0.00

58 Tikila Nichols 1.00 1.00